CVE-2015-9422 in PlugNedit Adaptive Editor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The PlugNedit Adaptive Editor plugin before 6.2.0 for WordPress has CSRF with resultant XSS via wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=simple_fields_field_type_post_dialog_load plugnedit_width, pnemedcount, PlugneditBGColor, PlugneditEditorMargin, or plugneditcontent parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2023
The CVE-2015-9422 vulnerability affects the PlugNedit Adaptive Editor plugin version 6.2.0 and earlier for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that combines cross-site request forgery with cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's administrative interface handling mechanism, specifically targeting the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php endpoint with the simple_fields_field_type_post_dialog_load action. The flaw allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated admin users through a carefully crafted cross-site request forgery attack that simultaneously delivers cross-site scripting payloads.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize user input parameters passed through the administrative ajax endpoint. Specifically, the parameters plugnedit_width, pnemedcount, PlugneditBGColor, PlugneditEditorMargin, and plugneditcontent are processed without adequate input validation or output encoding, creating an environment where malicious data can be injected and subsequently executed. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-352, which describes cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities, and CWE-79, which addresses cross-site scripting flaws, making it a compound security weakness that amplifies its potential impact.
Operational exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized administrative actions on compromised WordPress sites, including but not limited to creating or modifying content, installing malicious plugins, modifying user permissions, and potentially establishing persistent backdoors. The attack typically requires the victim administrator to be logged into the WordPress admin panel and to visit a malicious webpage or click on a crafted link that triggers the CSRF attack. Given that the vulnerability affects the core WordPress administrative interface, successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the affected website, allowing attackers to manipulate content, steal sensitive information, or use the compromised site as a launching point for further attacks against other systems.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate content manipulation as it represents a significant threat to WordPress site integrity and security. Attackers can leverage the XSS component to steal admin session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject persistent malware into the WordPress installation. The vulnerability's location within the administrative ajax handler makes it particularly dangerous as it bypasses many traditional security controls that might protect against direct script injection attacks. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of ATT&CK framework's T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter categories, as it enables attackers to exploit publicly accessible web applications and execute malicious code through compromised administrative sessions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9422 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 6.2.0 or later, which contain proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should implement proper security measures including the use of security headers, Content Security Policy implementations, and regular security audits of installed plugins. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while monitoring for unusual administrative activity and implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability scanning and patch management processes should be maintained to ensure all WordPress components remain up to date with security fixes, particularly focusing on third-party plugins that may introduce similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web application development, reinforcing the need for security considerations throughout the software development lifecycle.